A couple of Gerberas

[Didache]

Hi all - on an otherwise dull and grey afternoon I spent some time shooting gerberas, that most photogenic of flowers. The first is "head on", the second uses selective DOF. Both shot at f11 aperture priority.

As always, any comments are appreciated.

Cheers
Mike

[Didache]

And another - a triptych from the same shoot.

Mike

[Xia_Ke]

I love how the triptych came out Mike. Frame that one and stick it on the wall

[gahspidy]

The two individual shots are ok, but the triptych is very effective.

[Didache]

Thanks guys for your kind words. I am fortunate in that my kitchen gets some nice light in the afternoons.

Cheers
Mike

[Alison]

Wow! Why aren't these in the photo project forum?
They're GORGEOUS! They are May flowers aren't they?

Your lighting is wonderful. Do you have a product tent and lighting?
And I love the white backgrounds. Really makes the Gerbera's stand out.
Composition is spot on too.
Wasn't too sure about the triptych at first. Had to look at that one for a while before I noticed how you arranged the flowers.

Superb work Mike!!!

[Didache]

Alison - thanks for your kind words. My lighting is very Heath Robinson I'm afraid - I tape some white paper to my kitchen window (facing north) and place the flowers about 2 feet away (actually on the ledge of the sink!). That way I get some subtle back-light through the paper and make the paper out of focus. I use a 50-200 lens from about halfway across the kitchen and shoot at aperture priority of f11. The key is that the kitchen door is just to the right (east) so I get some cross light and just a little front light from the flourescent strip. It seems to work.

I attach another one from the same shoot, using coloured art paper instead of white. This is a Diptych.

Cheers
Mike

[readingr]

Mike,

Don;t know how I missed these until now.

Absolutely spectacular.

Thanks for the explanation on how you achieved this.

Roger

[swmdrayfan]

Excellent work, Mike. I'd like to attempt one myself, but don't really understand the concept.
John

[Greg McCary]

I must agree with everyone else these are very beautiful. Thanks also for sharing your technique.

[Tuna]

All great stuff. Each one achieves a delicate balance in technical achievement and aesthetics that both elevates to a high level and is very pleasing - well done.

Tuna

[focalpoint]

Mike - Great pictures! I've always been intrigued by flower photos! I love the white backgrounds....very simple but beautiful! Great work!

[Frog]

I'm not much on flowers with plain backgrounds but that's personal taste.
I will say that you got great d.o.f. which often suffers in flower photos.

[Didache]

Thanks again guys - I am humbled, especially considering the level of photography some of you aspire to.

swmdrayfan - the concept is basically this: If you put the flower in front of a piece of paper taped to a window, a diffused light will shine through the petals making them "glow".

Cheers all
Mike

[KyRain]

These are so beautiful. I am just awestruck by the quality and design. The colors and flowers have such a "fresh" feel. Stunning work! I appreciate both the white and colored background but for me the colored bg makes the flowers "glow" more as you stated.

[TylerTinsley]

nice crisp images, i love the description of your lighting, I will have to try that out.